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Don't risk it prevent it....
GENERAL SAFETY
As always, personal safety is a matter of shared responsibility between authorities and the individual visitor. To ensure that your visit is special and safe, we offer a few suggestions based on international guidelines – for your assistance. Please keep contact details of local security, police stations and your accommodations contacts numbers in case of an emergency in the vacinity you will be staying. Though there’s so much to see and do, that it’s impossible to fit it all in during one trip, with both breathtaking scenery, rich and luxurious parts of major cities, exciting nightlife and incredible culture, it is a country with a serious rate of crime to watch out for.
Since there are staggeringly poor areas, it is not at all uncommon to hear about muggings and armed robberies.
QUICK SAFETY TIPS;
KNOW
BEFORE YOU GO
KEEP CONTACT NUMBERS SUCH AS ACCOMODATION, POLICE, CAR HIRE COMPANY ON HAND FOR EMERGENCY
keep an eye out on your children at all times to ensure thay do not get seperated
1
AT THE AIRPORT
Make sure your bags and luggage have locks and name tags. Do not allow people to tamper with your bags or assistance in carrying your bags. Ensure Bags are loaded in your transport to and from airports. When seeking directions, proceed to marked information counters only.
2
AT HOTELS, GUEST HOUSE ETC.
Report and suspicious, unattended luggage or parcels to the personnel at reception. Never leave your luggage unattended it is locked away in your room. Store valuables in a safety deposit box. Keep your room locked. If someone knocks check who is there first before opening the door. Contact reception if you have any reason of concern. Hand your keys in whenever you leave. Make sure that luggage is only given to the bell staff and a receipt is issued for stored luggage.
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3
ON THE STREET
Avoid an ostentatious display of expensive jewelry, cameras, mobile phones and other valuables. Keep your handbag with you, keep it closed or zipped and do not leave it unattended. Keep your mobile phone with you and do not leave it unattended. Do not carry large sums of money with you. Exchange your currency at a bank at the hotel-never exchange it on the street. Carry your wallet in an inside pocket- never in the rear pocket of your trousers. Credit card transactions must be processed in your presence, your credit card must not leave your site and ensure cards are not swiped against objects. Only you should handle your card. At night stay away from dark isolated areas. Its is always better to explore in groups and to stick to well-lit, busy streets. Plan your route beforehand and, as far as possible, do not ask directions from strangers. A police officer or traffic officer will be happy to direct you if you get lost.
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4
IN YOUR VEHICLE
Plan your route in advance. Keep the doors locked and wind the windows up at all times. Do not leave your mobile phone or other valuables where they are visible from outside the vehicle. Lock valuable items in the boot (trunk) before you departure. At night, park in well-lit areas. Never pick up strangers or hitchhikers. If in doubt about the safety of an area, phone a police station for advice and and help. Make sure you have the number of the car rental company at hand in case you get stranded.
5
ON HIKING TRAILS
In the interest of personal safety and having assistance in the case of physical or medical emergency, it is advisable to explore trails in groups. Steer away from isolated areas unless accompanied by a guide.
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YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED
1
IS IT SAFE TO HIRE A CAR AND DRIVE MYSELF?
Yes it is. Always plan your routes. Hire a sedan with a closed trunk (called a “boot” in Southern Africa), as opposed to a hatchback. Lock valuable items in the trunk. Never leave valuables in open display in your vehicle, as thieves roam around checking in car vehicles, and if at night they can't identify something may smash your car's window to see what it is.
2
IS CRIME THAT BAD THAT I SHOULD NOT VISIT?
The level of crime in Southern Africa can unfortunately be high in some areas and caution must be taken! Robbery, armed assault, carjackings, muggings, theft and pickpocketing occur including many placed worldwide. Do not make yourself vulnerable to these criminals. If you take care and stay alert you should not experience this crime. Southern Africa is a beautiful country and many people just like you live here including many foreigners making it their home, so it isn't all that bad. Don’t let the crime spoil your vacation, but don’t let negligence ruin your life. Stay alert and be aware. If you take care you should enjoy your holiday with no problems.
3
IS IT SAFE TO USE PUBLIC TRANSPORT?
Public transport in Southern Africa is not tourist friendly and can be the scene of many criminal activities. Be aware of criminals waiting around at airports taxi and bus ranks. Rails and metro trains are also the locations where assaults and robberies have occurred. If you plan to take a train always opt for the 1st Class, travel during the day and in a cabin with people. It is more advisable to travel in own hired vehicles with a functioning gps and carefully planned routes and traveling in tour groups or hotel shuttels.
4
IS PICK POCKETING A MAJOR PROBLEM?
Pickpocketing was once a serious problem, but it has been on a decline during the past couple of years. Still, the riskiest locations where you may encounter petty theft are crowded places such as markets, public transport and bus, and train stations.
5
ARE THEIR SCAMS I SHOULD BE WORRIED ABOUT?
There are a couple of popular scams, one of them involving criminals posing as "tourist police" with a goal to rob visitors. They are known to stop tourist buses, saying that they're checking identification and searching luggage. However there's no such thing as "tourist police" so be on the lookout. Then there are so-called "strollers", and they can be anyone from children to junkies. Their only goal is to rob you blind so keep your valuables well hidden.
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